Kitchen Myths

Facts and fiction about food and cooking, by Peter Aitken

Never put bananas in the refrigerator – they’ll become inedible

2 Comments Posted by kitchenmyths on April 4, 2011

The skins will darken, but refrigeration slows ripening of bananas the same as it does other fruits. The insides will be fine.

Pamela Hardy August 17, 2011 at 3:41 am
I was told not to put bananas in the fridge due to a toxin in the peel that will speed up the ripening process of any fruit surrounding the banana. This also may be a myth!

Reply
kitchenmyths August 17, 2011 at 8:24 am
That’s actually true – sort of. Ripening bananas give off small amounts of a gas called ethylene. It is not toxic and is a natural product. It does speed the ripening of other fruits and vegetables, and many people make use of this. If you want to hasten the ripening of, say, a peach or tomato, seal it in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana.

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